THE BOSTON Celtics came into the season as the reigning NBA Champions, but could not go back to back after falling in the second round of the playoffs last week after being eliminated by the New York Knicks.

Boasting one of the strongest rosters in the NBA, the Celtics were a strong chance to go back to back, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both at the peak of their powers, and players such as Derrick White and Payton Pritchard taking the next step and becoming consistently strong performers for Boston.

However, the Celtics found themselves struggling against a Knicks team that was riding a wave of momentum, before an Achilles injury to Tatum essentially put an end to their hopes of winning consecutive titles.

Now with their superstar on the sidelines for at least the next nine months, the Celtics will likely retool their roster for next season, and the draft is a great place to add quality young pieces in a stacked 2025 class. With a late first-round and early second-round selection to their name, Boston is renowned for finding gems at the draft, and will look to do so next month.

Boston Celtics

Draft Selections

28, 32

Contracted Players

Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman (non-guaranteed), Xavier Tillman Sr., Neemias Queta (non-guaranteed), Sam Hauser, Jordan Walsh (non-guaranteed), JD Davison

With two picks inside the top 32, the Celtics can certainly acquire some promising young talent in Chicago next month. With the Celtics a reasonable chance to make some free agency and trade moves in the coming months, there is every chance the team’s core looks quite different next season, and their selections in June could prove crucial.

With plenty of money on their payroll heading into the 2024/25 season, the Celtics could benefit from trading away one of their big names and filling that role with some exciting young talent at the draft, with Pritchard proving this has been a winning strategy in the past.

With Al Horford turning 39 over the off-season and Kristaps Porzingis‘ injury history, it would make sense for the Celtics to boost their frontcourt stocks. With plenty of talented bigs on the board when they make their first pick, there will be ample opportunity to select a key piece of the future for Boston.

Although a foot injury has disrupted his draft preparation, Thomas Sorber would be an excellent addition if still on the board at pick 28. With an old-school skillset which sees his strengths include rock-solid screens, excellent defensive instincts and a soft touch around the hoop, six-foot-10 Sorber would slot nicely into the Celtics current roster.

Another option if still on the board could be Noah Penda, who put together an impressive season in France. He has role-player traits that would not take away from the Celtics current stars, and he could be a sleeper option for Boston if still available at 28.

With their second pick, expect the Celtics to take the best available player, although adding to their offensive options would be extremely beneficial. Shot creators such as Walter Clayton Jr. and Labaron Philon would be able to contribute sooner rather than later, while combo guard Ben Saraf is also an intriguing option who is creative as a scorer and playmaker.